Question : OPERATIONS OF SPECIAL PLANES DURING FESTIVALS

(a) whether the public and the private airlines including Air India have made arrangements to operate special planes to clear heavy rush of the passengers during festivals and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether any instances of diverting/ shifting tickets of air passengers holding high class tickets in high capacity planes into low class tickets in low capacity planes by certain airlines prior to departure of the flights especially during festivals have come to the notice of the Government;

(c) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government against such airlines; and

(d) the steps taken by the Government to increase the frequency of flights from New Delhi and other parts of the country to Patna, Varanasi and Ranchi during festivals?

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Dr. Mahesh Sharma)

(a): Airlines are free to operate anywhere in the country subject to compliance of Route Dispersal Guidelines issued by Government. As such no analysis specific to additional flights to cater passenger rush during festive season is available.

(b): No such particular complaint of diverting/ shifting premium class tickets in to economy class tickets has been received specific to festive season. However, one case of Dr. Mahendra Singh Chauhan, MP (LS) was received in respect of allocation of his confirmed seat to sky marshal while travelling on Jet Airways.

(c): The issue has been taken up with Jet Airways for being careful in future while dealing with passengers having confirmed booking to avoid similar occurrence.

(d): Government has laid down Route Dispersal Guidelines (RDG) with a view to achieve better regulation of air transport services taking into account the need for air transport services of different regions of the country. It is, however, up to the airlines to provide air services to specific places depending upon the traffic demand and commercial viability. As such airlines are free to operate anywhere in the country subject to compliance of RDG issued by Government.